The Rural Voice, 1989-04, Page 82RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Box 416, Emo, Ontario POW 1 E0
807-482-2051
• The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy River
Federation members by the RRFA.
The winter of 1988-89 was a real
old-fashioned one, testing the sturdiest
stock of the Rainy River District, who
pride themselves on perseverance. But
spring is on the way, and all the snow
should provide some relief from the
droughts of the past two years.
The Rainy River Cattlemen's Asso-
ciation chose Doug Carlson as president
at a directors' meeting February 15. At
this same meeting there was a long dis-
cussion of the poor results of the satellite
sales in 1988. It was decided that mar-
keting alternatives should be investi-
gated before making any final decision.
At an open meeting February 24,
University of Manitoba economist Dar-
ryl Kraft explained the complicated and
extravagant subsidies to beef producers
in Western Canada. Most are equal to or
better than Quebec's. With these sub-
sidy guarantees it is quite obvious how
Saskatchewan and Alberta buyers paid
so much more for calves in 1988 than
could the neglected Ontario feedlots.
The federal government allowing
277 million pounds of offshore im-
ported beef, which disrupted the free
market in 1988, did not affect these
heavily subsidized producers in West-
ern Canada. It is hoped that this offshore
beef will not be allowed to disrupt the
free market again in 1989.
Darryl Kraft believes that when
Cargill Grain completes construction of
its ultra -modern packing plant with the
help of even more Alberta government
subsidies the feedlot industry will be-
come concentrated in Alberta. He also
suspects that the federal government
will change barley marketing and grain
transportation rules to further benefit
the Alberta feedlot industry.
When this happens, he says, the
Manitoba and Saskatchewan feedlot
and packing industries will be unable to
complete, so most stocker cattle will
move west.
On March 15 the RRCA held a tele-
conference with University of Guelph
economist Larry Martin, who generally
agreed with the situation as described by
Darryl Kraft.
Directors of the RRCA decided to
send a delegation west to investigate
marketing possibilities.
80 THE RURAL VOICE
With Saskatchewan deciding not to
adhere to the Stabilization Plan rules,
stocker prices should be much higher
there again than in Ontario.
The Ontario government apparently
is willing to lose its beef industry rather
than interfere in this so-called free mar-
ket. It appears that until the beef indus-
try can somehow be stabilized, produc-
ers will continue to be manipulated one
against the other, East against West.
On April 1 the Rainy River Bull Test
Station will hold an open house at the
farm of Ken Fisher south of Emo, fol-
lowed by the 10th annual bull sale.
10TH ANNUAL
RAINY RIVER DISTRICT
BULL SALE
SATURDAY, APRIL 8
1:00 p.m.
STRATTON SALES YARD
(contact Ken Fisher, 482-2747)
The Rainy River Soil and Crop
Improvement Association and the
Rainy River Seed Growers Association
have combined to organize the annual
Seed Fair for 1989.
RAINY RIVER DISTRICT
ANNUAL SEED FAIR
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
BARWICK RECREATION CENTRE
(Bernie Zimmerman, 487-2254)
RAINY RIVER DISTRICT
FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
SPRING DINNER AND DANCE
SATURDAY, APRIL 15
6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
EMO ARENA
(Linda Armstrong, 852-3645)
The Rainy River District Federation
of Agriculture held its monthly meeting
on March 6 at the OMAF office in Emo.
President George Hyatt, secretary Jac-
quie Hunsperger, and directors Paul
Heyens, Kristine Carpenter, Linda
Armstrong, and Bill McLean attended.
Linda Armstrong reported that all
arrangements were completed for the
spring dinner and dance. Tickets are
$12 from any RRFA director.
Kristine Carpenter reported on the
meeting with MLA Howard Hampton
on February 9 at Stratton. Since then the
Minister of Agriculture has confirmed
that a new Red Meat Program will be in
place sometime in 1989.
Work is continuing on hunter prob-
lems, trespassing, land severances, and
MNR cutting rights for farmers.
Ken McKinnon and the Fair Board
are continuing to investigate the pos-
sible consequences of Bill 129.
Linda Armstrong reported on the
meeting with MP Bob Nault at the Strat-
ton Separate School February 23. There
was a lot of discussion concerning the
problems with border -crossing arrange-
ments. Apparently truckers are having
problems because the broker is no
longer located at the Baudette crossing.
Mr. Nault has been investigating this
problem and says he thinks it will be
resolved satisfactorily. Some discus-
sions with agriculture minister Don
Mazankowski have been promising.
Ken McKinnon said that success for
cattle producers in the District hinges on
obtaining a port of entry into the U.S.
market to take advantage of the Free
Trade Agreement. Nault feels that
Mazankowski agrees.
Kim Cornell, another key member of
the border crossing committee, has been
seeking Minnesota customers for his
registered Hereford breeding stock.
Kim thinks the market is there for Dis-
trict cattle producers.
Mr. Nault will also investigate Barry
Hartry's complaint of too much off-
shore beef disrupting true market prices
in Canada.
Paul Heyens reported that the Fair
Board is investigating the condition of
the old grandstand. Horseshoe pits will
be repaired in 1989 and the board is also
reviewing the prize list.
The RRFA has arranged with Pat
Clysdale-Cornell to present two leader-
ship courses this spring. A public speak-
ing course will be held at the Emo li-
brary on April 12, and on April 26 there
will be an update on parliamentary pro-
cedure for any organization directors.
The next meeting of the RRFA is
April 3 at the OMAF office in Emo.O
Dean Hodgson